DA: The officers’ use of force in the January shooting was justified

(HRB EL PASO, Colo.) – The 4th Judicial Circuit’s (DA) District Attorney’s Office has found that the use of deadly force by six law enforcement officers during the January 2024 Security-Widefield incident was justified.

The district attorney’s office said the suspect, 51-year-old Christopher Fraijo, was only carrying a BB gun and not an actual firearm. However, the weapon’s similarity to a semi-automatic rifle and Fraijo’s refusal to obey commands led officers to conclude he posed a danger to officers and the public.

The incident occurred when Deputy Cameron Komrofske of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) saw Fraijo at approximately 12:38 a.m. on January 27 walking in the area of ​​Crawford Avenue and Security Boulevard and acting “suspiciously.” Initially, Deputy Komrofske did not make contact with Fraijo, but then the deputy saw Fraijo a second time walking on the east side of Security Boulevard and it appeared that Fraijo was trying to hide something from the deputy as he approached.

As the deputy approached, he reportedly saw “the barrel of a gun sticking out over his (Fraijo’s) left shoulder.” Deputy Komrofske repeatedly asked Fraijo to put the gun down, at which point Fraijo refused to follow the deputy’s commands and said he would not be returning to jail and that he had warrants for his arrest.

Deputy Komrofske saw Fraijo carrying what the deputy believed to be a semi-automatic rifle, although Fraijo stated it was a BB gun. At that time, additional EPSO deputies and officers from the Fountain Police Department (FPD) arrived to assist Deputy Komrofske. After giving the officers a false identity, Fraijo approached the officers, saying “just shoot me,” according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Deputies and officers responded that they did not want to shoot at him, at which point Fraijo reportedly raised his gun and pointed it at the officers.

At that point, EPSO Deputies Komrofske, Jonathan Aggen, and Tiffany Lee, as well as Fountain Officers Brandon Anderson and Destin Alvarez, fired, striking Fraijo multiple times. Fountain Corporal Eric Moore was equipped with a less-lethal shotgun and fired from a bean bag.

Fraijo was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead after suffering 15 gunshot wounds. The district attorney’s office said toxicology reports showed Fraijo had methamphetamine and amphetamines in his system at the time of the shooting.

The weapon Fraijo was carrying was confirmed to be an air gun; however, the District Attorney’s Office said the Deadly Force Investigation Team determined that the use of deadly force by FPD officers and EPSO deputies was justified given the weapon’s similarity to a semi-automatic rifle.

Above, left: BB gun carried by Christopher Fraijo. Above, right: An example of a semi-automatic rifle.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said that beyond the belief that Fraijo was potentially armed with 30 rounds of ammunition capable of injuring law enforcement present and the public, the officers’ use of force was justified because no officers were close enough to use a less lethal method like a Taser.